Federal authorities say four Richmond men have been indicted on charges of harboring illegal aliens and money laundering.

The U.S. attorney's office said Thursday that the men are accused of smuggling illegal aliens into the United States from Mexico with the help of a "coyote," which is someone paid to bring the aliens across the border. The defendants allegedly put the aliens to work in a janitorial service run by 48-year-old Richard Mok Lee to repay the coyote's fee.

The defendants are identified as Lee, 40-year-old Edwin Vela, 32-year-old Guillermo Barreras Ponce and 39-year-old Fermin Bolanos Garcia. Authorities say defendants were housing 17 alleged illegal aliens.